The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-09-02
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Just in front Of Ashland City, Cheat.
ham County. ON the opposite or west
hank Of the Cumberland river, II very
tall and precipitous bluff almost Of solid
rock. In some places the summit juts
out beyond the base. adding TO the
grandeur Of its appearance. It is COW
cred with small trees and underground.
and back Of it and on both sides il =
woodland country. Altogether it 10
one Of the most romantic looking spots
in that picturesque river country. and
it would be rather remarkable than
otherwise if such q place had no legend
associated with it This majestic cliff,
whose unchauging face looked upon
the gently flowing river when it bore
no larger craft upon its surface than
the canoe of the red man. and long before
the first log hut was built in Nashville,
is known as ''Siddie's Bluff" The story
goes that many years ago it was the
scene of the romantic and tragic death
of q young girl called Siddie, who leap
ed from its brow into the river below.
Siddie. according to the story. was a
beautiful young girl. who lived with
her parents some distance up the river.
Some Of the river men some times
stopped at the house. and number of
them were among the suitors of the
beautiful Siddie. For long time none
of them was particularly favored, but
it was finally remarked that prefer
ence was shown one of the number. a
handsome young fellow who. though he
had not been long on the river. was
very popular among his mates 1t was
soon understood that he had won Sid
dies heart and had been promised her
hand, and none were surprised when
it was learned that the day had been
named for the marriage of Siddie and
her choice. The time went happily for
the lovers until short time before the
day which was to complete their joy.
when the young man had to leave on q
long trip down the river. He was to
return just in time to be married on
the day appointed. Siddie babe her
stalwart young lover lingering and
reluctant farewell. and he started with
heart full of hope upon his journey.
He never returned. One report has it
that he was drowned, another that his
fate was never known. Siddie refused
for months to believe that he would
not come back. and long after the day
which was to have witnessed their mar
rage, she could be seen upon the bank
of the river looking for the coming of
her betrothcd. As time went on. and
he came not, the look of expectancy
faded into one of bewilderment, and
soon gave place to one of painful ap-
prehension.
The poor girl lost all interest in her
surroundings. and seemed absorbed
with the idea of finding her best love.
1t was soon whispered about that grief
had robbed her of her reason. She
would leave the house in the morning
and not return for hours and it was
noticed that her daily walk always
took her along the river side. One
day she went on one of these walks,
but at noon she had not returned. The
day wore on and her absence began to
excite alarm. When night came and
she had not appeared. search party
was organized, and in drenching
wind and rain storm which had come
up, began to scour the woods along
the west bank of the river. 1t was
learned that the girl had followed the
downward course of the Cumberland.
several persons having seen her as
she passed in the morning. Soon the
searchers ceased to hear her at sll, and
it was not until the next day, when
some of them had gone rs far down as
Ashland and crossed over to the little
settlement which then occupied the
| site of the present town, that any news
of the girl was again heard. The
| searchers then learned that their work
was done. The girl had leaped from the
bluff into the river below.-Nashville
(7enn.) Banner.